In loco parentis
From Free net encyclopedia
The term in loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent", refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. For example, state law gives school teachers some areas of responsibility in which they act in loco parentis.
American courts used to apply the doctrine of in loco parentis to college students as well as K-12 students. This started to change in the 1960s and 1970s to the point where it does not appear that the doctrine applies to students, although there does seem to be a revival of the doctrine.